Chairman of Eswatini Railways, the CEO of Eswatini Railways Nixon Dlamini, and the CEO of the Eswatini Tourism
Authority, among others.
By Silindzelwe Nxumalo
ESWATINI Railways (ESR) says the public is responding positively to the anticipated first Tourist Train experience. This is two days before the train hits the rail on September 22 and September 23, 2023.
ESR Corporate Communications Manager Sive Manana said that they are overwhelmed by the response they are getting from the public as the tickets are selling like hotcakes in winter. Manana said that considering the short period of launch of the train, they are expecting to have a full train.
He encouraged people not to miss out on the first historic tourist train as it would be exciting and interesting. “We encourage people to pay so that they become part of the history we will be making,” he said.
He further encouraged those planning to travel as a family to consider the Saturday train because the one for Friday would not be family friendly.
“We will not be allowing children under the age of 18 into the Friday train as they will be night activities that will happen which are only allowed for older people,” he said.
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The ESR Tourist Train between Matsapha and Maputo was launched by the Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe at the Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF).
During the launch, the minister said that it was a significant milestone for ESR as they were witnessing the realization of a dream that had been in the making for a while.
“The journey has not been without teething problems, as is usually the case with many new projects. But that has not stopped the organization from forging ahead,” said the minister. Ndwandwe applauded the ESR for achieving the milestone working side by side with strategic partners and Mozambican Railways Administrator (CFM).
ESR board of directors’ member, Sakhile Ndzimandze, at the launch said that the tourist train is in line with the bilateral agreement that exists between Eswatini and the Republic of Mozambique to promote trade and tourism between the two countries.
Ndzimandze said that ESR has formed strategic partnerships with the Mozambican Railways Administrator (CFM), to run through international passenger trains between Matsapha and Maputo and vice versa.
“The launch of the tourist train will have benefits such as Eco-friendly travelling, creating passenger train experience mainly for Mozambicans and emaSwati who have never boarded a train and explore unchartered tourist train services in Eswatini,” he said.
